Two people are pulling a boat through the water as in the figure below. Each exerts a force of 600 N directed at a è = 20.0° angle relative to the forward motion of the boat. If the boat moves with constant velocity, find the resistive force exerted by the water on the boat.

Answer 1

Since the boat is moving at constant velocity, the net force on the boat along the direction of motion must be zero.

That means the resistive force is equal and opposite to the sum of the forward components of the two towing forces.

Answer 2

45.5 N